EXPRESSION OF THE X-INACTIVATION-ASSOCIATED GENE XIST DURING SPERMATOGENESIS

Mammalian X-chromosome inactivation is thought to be controlled by the X inactivation centre (XIC, X-controlling element -Xce- in mice). A human gene, XIST and its mouse counterpart, Xist, which map to the XIC/Xce, are expressed exclusively from inactive X chromosomes, suggesting their involvement in the process of X-inactivation. We now report the presence of Xist/XIST transcripts in newborn and adult mouse testes, and in human testicular tissue with normal spermatogenesis, but not in the testes of patients who lack germ cells. Our results indicate that while the X chromosome in males is active in somatic cells, it undergoes inactivation during spermatogenesis.